Well the school year is winding down and last Friday we graduated 17 Seniors from W.T. Sampson High School. Yep, that is the number 17.
So fun to be a part of celebrations that mark the start of new adventures for young adults.
First, I am proud that Annie’s boyfriend, Alex Rodriquez (no not THAT one) was named Valedictorian. They waited until seniors had finished their exams and final grades were posted to make the announcement. So Alex had one day to write a speech. I have to say it was endearing to me that he used Pokemon imagery to draw a metaphor of how he and his classmates have grown and changed. Some of his teacher’s didn’t quite appreciate it… but as a mother of boys from that era…I totally got it.
Alex and Selena are in shock to find out that they are Valedictorian and Salutatorian and have one day to write a speech.
There is no auditorium at the school, so we hold graduation at the Chapel. Since this served as W.T. Sampson’s first home, I think it is appropriate that we have graduation there.. even if it isn’t “politically correct”. The Church is one of the oldest structures on base still in use. It is beautiful. It houses both Catholic and Protestant services.
View of the chapel taken by my friend and photography club member, Dan Frasco. Yes, Alex and Salena you have to address this crowd!
Graduation on a military base has it’s advantages. This Marine Color Guard marched the flags in with precision worthy of honoring the President.
The Marine Color Guard presenting the Flags for the Graduation Ceremony. This picture was taken by my friend and photography club member, Maria Trias.
One of the highlights for me was the Commencement Address. Rear Admiral, Richard Butler, commander of the Joint Task Force at Guantanamo Bay, gave the address. Admiral Butler and his wife had hosted the students of W.T. Sampson for Prom just a few weeks prior to graduation. They made a genuine effort to get to know the kids that night. Admiral Butler had some wise words for the graduates, but what he did at the end of the address is what impressed me the most. He took the time to congratulate each member of the class by name, individually. Now you may be thinking, “So what, he can read a list of seventeen names.” That is not how it went. I watched as he looked from student to student as they sat in their chairs and addressed them personally.. in a few cases the students given name is not the name their friends call them.. For example Alex’s first name is Christian. In every case Admiral Butler called the student’s by their nick names, and never once did he consult a list of names. He commands one of the most controversial military units currently in operation. He was in the midst of increased scrutiny in the aftermath of the exchange of five GTMO prisoners for the last American POW. Yet he took the time to make sure he knew these 17 students by name.
Finally, when there are only seventeen of you graduating, everyone can take the mike and thank their loved ones for attending. It was so special to see each graduate have their moment in the “sun”. One student apologized to his mother for being a jerk for fourteen years. His emotional outpouring to his mother was spontaneous and heart felt and made me cry. He said coming to GTMO literally saved his life. He was on a bad path. Today he is looking forward to joining the service.
A loving community can do that for a person. And GTMO is that. It is a community of people who care for one-another, who take the time to learn your nick-name even when they’ve had a bad day at work, who understand that the future is in the hands of our youth, and it is up to all of us to give them the tools they need to take their hand at the wheel. With these seventeen on board, I think our ship of state is in good hands. It won’t always be smooth sailing, and there are sure to be rough seas ahead, but I am confident that these students have many amazing ports of call awaiting them.
Congratulations Class of 2014.
shawberget 